Setting system for watches



Sept. 3,1935. s. MATHEZ 2,012,965

SETTING SYSTEM FOR WATCHES Filed April 8, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Sept. 3, 1935. s. MATHEz 2,012,965

SETTING SYSTEM FOR WATCHES Filed April 8, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Patented Sept. 3, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE 2l Claims.

The object of this invention is to remove the objectionable features of the time setting of wrist` watches.

Thesetting system now in vogue has always l5l been a source of trouble to both the user and the watchmaher. When an ordinary wrist watch is being set the pulling out and pushing back of the 'own and stem causes a certain amount of particles oi dust, threads or bersito be gradually introduced into the delicate parts of the watch, and with the natural moisture on the human body, the setting mechanism soon becomes badly imand often completely mined by rust and wear.

Pulling out the small crown of the wrist watch foxttime setting purposes is usually a tedious operation often resulting in the breaking of finger nails, mashing of nger tips, and the breaking of pieces of the setting mechanism. When the setting mechanism has been made to work easier there is the danger of the crown pulling out accidently when caught by a thread in the sleeve. Some are also apt to forget to push back the crown after setting the watch. These diiliculties as well as others-lare completely eliminated by this invention.

The setting of a modern wrist watch is obtained by 'a change of gear. According to' this invention the change of gear may be produced by bending down the straplugs on one side of the watch. One pair of these lugs is strongly hinged to allow it to rock'downwardly about a quarter of a turn. These two lugs are securely fastened to a shaft which holds them together and which is provided with ymeans such as cams, levers or pins for operating the clutch wheel to control it for winding or timek setting. In the accompanying drawings two forms have been adopted. For those who desire to set the watch when on the wrist a strong locking device has lbeen provided to hold the lugs in position while the watch is being set. For those who prefer to wind up and set their watch before it is placed on their wrist the movement of the the time settiim to the winding 461 position is automatically'eifected so that the watch is neverin danger of being left in the time setting position inadvertently orby accident.

Among the objects of this invention arethe provision of means ior controlling the winding and 50T time setting operations of a watch without necessitating the pulling out or pushing in of the crown, and! at the same time avoiding a crowded condition ot detents and levers around the Item of the crown; means' for locking `the controtling 55? mechanismfin winding or time setting position;

means for automatically returning the controlling mechanism into winding position; and means in connection with the locking means for indicating to the user when the controlling means is adjusted for time setting. 5

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the drawings, in which Fig. l is a top plan view of the case cup of an open-faced wrist watch with the bezel and dial removed to show the connection between the clutch wheel of the winding and time setting mechanisms and a pair of pivoted strap lugs, showing the clutch wheel in winding position;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the clutch wheel in time setting position;

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view on the line 8 3 of Fig. l showing the connections between the strap lug shaft and the clutch wheel shifting and lug locking mechanisms;

Fig. 4 shows the ready removability oi' the watch movement from the case with movable strap lugs in the position they assume when the watch is strapped on the wrist of the user and the clutch wheel is set for winding; 25

Fig. 5 shows the strap lugs moved into position to control the clutch wheel for time setting;

Fig. 6 is a detail of the locking mechanism for the movable strap lugs, showing the strap lugs in normal position; 3,

Fig. 7 is a view of the strap lugs and locking mechanhm with the strap lugs in position to control the clutch wheel ior a time setting operation;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to a portion of Fig. 1 showing a modified connection between the lug shaft and the clutch wheel;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 showing a iurther modiiication of the mechanism between the clutch wheel and the lug shaft; 4|)

Fig. l0 is a view similar to Fig. 8 showing still another modification of the connection between the lug shaft and the clutch wheel and means for automatically moving the clutch wheel from time setting position into winding position;

Fig. l1 shows a modied form of automatic releasing mechanism for the clutch wheel;

Fig. 12 shows a modified construction in which the strap lugs are attached to the bezel; and

Fig. 13 shows a bottom plan view of the modication shown in Fig. 12.

The modification shown in Figs. 1 to 7 comprises a case I2 provided with a circular ange, or cup il for removably receiving the watch movement Il, as is clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and as indicated in Fig. 4. Projecting from one end of the case are the usual preferably elongated strap lugs I here shown as rigid, but which may be hinged if desired in which is mounted a strap pin I6 to which one end of the strap I1 is secured, as shown in Figs. l and 5. The other end of the case is provided with movable, preferably pivoted, strap lugs I3 and I3 which support a strap pin 2D to which the other end of the strap I1 is suitably secured. The strap lug I8, preferably provided with a hub pivoted in a lug on the case, is secured preferably permanently to a lug shaft 2i. The lug i9 is preferably detachably mounted on the shaft by a set screw indicated in Fig. 1, and may be provided with an enlarged hub portion 22 which may also be secured to the shaft by a set screw.

As shown in Figs. .l 2, 3, 6 and '1, the shaft 2I may be provided with a cam lug 23 which cooperates with a cam lug 2li on a lookinfr spring 25 secured to the cup i3, as shown in Figs. l and 2. When the strap lugs i8 and I9 are in theposition shown in Figs. l., 3, 4 and 6 they are held and locked in this position by the engagement of the cam lug 23 with the cam lug 24 as shown in Figs. 3 and 6. When the strap lugs are in the position shown in Figs. 2, 5 and '1, the cam lugs 23 and 24 cooperate as shown in Fig. 'l to hold the strap lugs I8 and i9 in the position shown in Figs. 2, 5 and 7.

As indicated in Figs. 3 and 4, the strap pin 20 is positioned close to the lug shaft 2I so that the strap may be fairly tight on the wrist of the user and still permit movement of the strap lugs I8 and I 9 from the position shown in Fig. 4 to that shown in Fig. 5, and also so that the pull of the strap on the strap lugs i8 and I9 will assist the locking spring 25 in holding the strap lugs in time setting position, as shown in Fig. 5, and prevent movement of the strap lugs into the winding position shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. l shows the clutch wheel in the winding position, and Fig. 2- shows the clutch wheel in the time setting position. The crown 26 is provided with the usual stem 21 on which is loosely mounted the winding pinion 2S by means of which the spring of the watch is wound. The portion of the stem 21 beyond the winding pinion is prefer-ably square in cross section, usual, for driving the clutch wheel 2S (also called sliding pinion) which in the position shown in Fig. l engages the clutch teeth on the winding pinion 2S and in the position shown in 2 engages on its other end with the intermediate wheel 33 which through a well known mechanism drives the hands of the watch .during time setting operations. .As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, clutch spring 3l normally tends to move the clutch wheel 29 into the winding position.

The clutch wheel shifting mechanism for shifting the clutch wheel from the winding to the time setting position comprises a setting lever 32 suitably pivoted on the upper plate of the movement of the watch, preferably in the position shown. The forward end of the arm 33 of the lever 32 engages a groove in the clutch. The intermediate portion of the arm 33 is provided with a pin 3fl which cooperates with a lock spring 35 to hold the setting lever 32 in either of the positions shown in Figs. l and 2.

Comparing the construction shown in Figs. l to '.7 with the old pull out system, it will be readily appreciated that the whole setting mechanism. is more evenly distributed in this construction. part of it being in the case and part on the movement. The usual detent and detent spring crowded about the stem at the extreme edge of the watch are herein eliminated, thereby avoiding a lot of the trouble heretofore had with these elements.

The case may be of the usual construction comprising a cup case and a bezel. The case of this invention .differs from the ordinary case in that one pair of lugs is preferably pivoted on a strong bearing in the case, the oblong, rectangular or tonneau shape being adopted to obtain the necessary space for the lug shaft and its bearings.

Heretofore the elongated lugs on the case were provided for the sake of appearance as they gracefully followed the lines of the oase and strap and avoided the abrupt appearance of the short lugs. The elongated lugs are .desirable in the present construction as they firmly rest on the wrist when pivoted downwardly in time setting position and thus assist the locking spring in holding the controlling mechanism as the watch is being set. The pressure of the lugs on the wrist, without being painful, is sufficient to remind the user that the mechanism is set for a time setting operation. This removes the danger of leaving themechanism in time setting position after the time has been set. The strap pin should be located close to the lug shaft to avoid a material increase in the tension of the str-ap when the mechanism is in time setting position.

It is important that the shifting of the clutch wheel into time setting position should occur toward the end of the downwardly pivoting movement of the strap lugs. The movement of the strap lugs necessary to shift the clutch wheel has been made short by means of the arrangement of the setting levers on the watch movement so that the greater part of the movement of the strap lugs may be idle.

The other arm 3S of the setting lever 32 may be shaped as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 to cooperate with an impulse or driving pin 31 as well as with a release pin 38 on the lug shaft 2 I.

In the normal position of the strap lugs on the wrist of the user the lever 32 is in the position shown in Fig. 1, and the clutch wheel is held in engagement with the Winding pinion 28 so that the watch may be wound by turning the crown 26. When the strap lugs are moved into the position shown in Figs. 2, 5 and 1, the pin 31 cooperates with the arm 36 of the lever 32 to move the lever 32 into the position shown in Fig. 2' which causes disengagement of the teeth of the clutch wheel 29 from the teeth on the winding pinion 28 and causes the gear teeth on the clutch wheel to engage with the setting pinion 30. When the strap lugs are returned to the position shown in Fig. 1 the pin 38 rocks the lever 32 to move the clutch wheel 29 into engagement with the winding pinion 28. The locking spring 25 functions to hold the lug shaft and strap lugs and the mechanism controlled thereby in each of the two positions. When it is desired to set the watch, the strap lugs are moved from the position shown in Fig. 4 to the position shown in Fig. 5 in which they are held by the lock spring' 25. After the time setting operation has been performed the engagement of the ends of the strap lugs I8 and I9 with the wrist of the user tends to warn the user that the clutch wheel ls shifted for time setting.

In the mechanism shown in Fig. 8, the lug shaft 2I is provided with a cam lug 23 cooperating with the cam lug 24 on the lock spring 25 which in this case may be on the right hand side of .the case. The lug shaft 2| is provided with a'cam 4I which cooperates with a spring 4I which carries a pin 4Ia to transmit movement from the lug shaft to a lever 42 pivoted on the watch movement which in turn cooperates with a gear shifting lever 43 also pivoted on the watch movement to move the clutch wheel 29 from the winding position shown in Fig. 8 to its time settingfpositicn, as the strap lugs Il and I9 are pivoted downwardly as shown in Figs. 2, and '7. The clutch wheel is normally urged into its winding position by means of a setting spring 44.

In the modified form shown in Fig. 9, the lug shaft 2| is provided with a pin 4I which engages in afslot I9 in a sliding setting bar 49 provided with a slot 1I to receive a screw l! threaded into the top plate of the watch movement. The forward end of the sliding bar 46 is guided by a pin I9 in said top plate and is provided with a cam portion 41 which cooperates with a cam portion 49 on a clutch spring 49 normally urging the clutch wheel 29 into the winding position shown in Fig. 9. As the strap lugs I9 and I9 are rocked into the position shown in Figs. 2, 5 and l the cooperating action of the cam portions 41 and 48 causes the clutch spring 49 to be flexed to the left to disengage the clutch teeth of the clutch wheel from the clutch teeth on the winding pinion and engage the gear teeth on the clutch wheel with the setting pinion.

In the modication shown in Fig. the shaft 2| is provided with a pin 21 cooperating with a setting lever 32a somewhat similar to the construction shown in Fig. 1. The lever 22a is normally held in the position shown in Fig. l0 in which the clutch wheel connects with the winding pinion, by means of a spring I9 engaging the lever 32a in the manner shown.

The shaft 2| is also provided with a pin il which engages and exes the spring 62 when the straplugs IB and I9 are moved from the normal position shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 2. The function of the spring 52 is to automatically return the strap lugs I9 and I9 from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 1 when operating pressure is removed from the strap lugs.

As shown in Fig. 1l a spring coiled about the lug shaft 2| suitably anchored to the lug shaft and to the case I2 may be substituted for the spring 92 shown in Fig. l0.

Watches provided with setting mechanisms for which lock springs are provided as shown in Figs. l to 9 may be controlled for time setting and then controlled for winding, while on the wrist of the wearer, by one hand of the wearer. Watches provided with release springs as in Figs. 10 and 11 are controlled for time setting upon operation of the strap lugs by one hand and effecting time setting by the other hand. After the time has been set, the pressure on the strap lugs is removed, thereby permitting the automatic restoration of the strap lugs and setting levers and clutch wheels.

In the modified construction shown in Figs.

' 12 and 13, the bezel 60 is provided with a pair of underside of the lug shaft 61 which corresponds to the lug shaft 2l of the other gures.

As is obvious from the disclosure, the watch movement and levers and springs carried thereby may be readiw removed from the cup case when the bezel is removed as in the modications in Figs. 1 to 1l or when the cup case is pivoted away from the bezel in the modification in Figs. l2 and 13 shown in Fig. 12. It is obvious that the case ma: be manufactured as a separate article and that the watch movement may also be manufactured as a separate article, and that in accordance with my invention the case and movement may be readily assembled.

As indicated more particularly in Figs. l, 2, 8, 9 and 10, the usual crowded condition of mechanism about the stem is avoided and the levers and springs are mounted so as not to interfere with the escapement mechanism and the usual trains of gear mechanisms in the watch movement.

While the invention has been described with reference to several modifications disclosed, it is to be understood that still other embodiments may be made within the spirit of this invention and that the claims are not to be limited by the disclosure except as necessitated by the state of the art.

What I claim is:

1. A wrist watch case comprising a main body portion for receiving a watch movement including time setting mechanism and a normally idle shiftable device for operating said mechanism, means for securing a strap to one end of said case, and strap lugs movably mounted in the other end of the case adapted upon movement to shift said device into cooperative engagement with the time setting mechanism.

2. A wrist watch case adapted to receive a watch movement including time setting mechanism and a normally idle shiftable device for operating said mechanism, a pair of fixed strap lugs at one end of the case, and a pair of movable strap lugs at the other end of the case adapted upon movement to shift said device into cooperative engagement with the time setting mechanism.

3. A watch case comprising a member for receiving a watch movement including time setting mechanism and a normally idle shiftable device for operating said mechanism, a bezel, means pivotally mounting said member on said bezel, a pair of strap lugs rigid with one end of said bezel, and a pair of strap lugs pivoted on the other end of said bezel adapted upon movement to shift said device into cooperative engagement with the time setting mechanism.

4. The combination with a watch case comprising two members one of which is adapted to receive a watch movement and the other of which constitutes a bezel, said watch movement including time setting mechanism and a normally idle shiftable device for operating said mechanism and pivoted strap lugs secured to one of said members and adapted upon movement to shift said device into cooperative engagement with the time setting mechanism.

5. In a wrist watch comprising a case housing a watch movement including winding and time setting mechanisms selectively operable through a shiftable clutch mechanism from any suitable driving means, a member mounted movably on the case and adapted to bear against the wrist of the wearer in its moved position, and operative connections between the movable member and the clutch mechanism for moving the latter to connect the driving means with the time setting mechanism.

6. In a wrist watch comprising a case housing a watch movement including winding and time setting mechanisms operable through a shiftable clutch mechanism from any suitable driving means, a member mounted movably on the case and adapted to bear against the wrist of the wearer in its moved position, and operative connections between the movable member and the clutch mechanism for moving the latter to connect the driving means with the time setting mechanism, the connection between said member and the case permitting the movable member to be moved into a position in which the pull of the strap will tend to hold said member in moved position.

'7. In a wrist Watch comprising a case housing a watch movement including winding and time setting mechanism operable through shiftable clutch mechanism from any suitable driving means, a member mounted movably on the case and adapted to bear against the wrist of the wearer in its moved position, operative connections between the movable member and the clutch mechanism for moving the latter to connect the driving means with the time setting mechanism, and means for locking said member in its moved position.

8. In a wrist watch comprising a case housing a watch movement including winding and time setting mechanisms operable through shiftable clutch mechanism from any suitable driving means, a member mounted movably on the case and adapted to bear against the wrist of the wearer in its moved position, operative connections between the movable member and the clutch mechanism for moving the latter to connect the driving means with the time setting mechanism, and means for holding said member in its normal moved positions.

9. In a wrist watch comprising a case housing a Watch movement including winding and time setting mechanisms operable through shiftabie clutch mechanism from any suitable driving means, a member mounted movably on the case and adapted to bear against the wrist of the wearer in its vmoved position, operative connections between the movable member and the clutch mechanism for moving the latter to connect the driving means with the time setting mechanism, and means automatically operating to move said member into its home position upon withdrawal of pressure applied thereto in moving it out of its home position.

10. In a wrist watch comprising a case enclosing a watch movement comprising winding and time setting mechanisms operable through a shiftable clutch wheel from the usual crown located outside of the case, a'pair of strap lugs, aV

shaft on which said strap lugs are fixed, bearings on said case for said shaft, and connections between said shaft and clutch Wheel for moving said clutch wheel into cooperative engagement with said time setting mechanism as said lugs are pivoted on said case.

1l. In a Wrist watch comprising a case enclosing a watch movement comprising winding and time setting mechanisms operable through a shiftable clutch'wheel from the usual crown located outside of the case, a pair of strap lugs, a shaft on which said strap lugs are xed, bearings on said case for said shaft, a setting lever pivoted on said watch movement and engaging said clutch Wheel, and means on said shaft for operating said lever.

l2. In a wrist watch comprising a case enclosing a watch movement comprising winding and time setting mechanisms operable through a shiftable clutch Wheel from the usual crown located outside of the case, a pair of strap lugs, a shaft on which said strap lugs are fixed, bearings on said case for said shaft, a lever pivoted on said watch movement having one of its ends engaging said clutch wheel, a cam portion on the other end of said lever, and a pin on said shaft for engaging with said cam portion on said lever, the construction being such that this engagement takes place toward the end of the pivoting movement of said strap lugs.

13. In a Wrist watch comprising a case enclosing a Watch movement comprising winding and time setting mechanisms operable through a shiftable clutch wheel from the usual crown located outside of the case, a pair of strap lugs, a shaft on which said strap lugs are xed, bearings on said case for said shaft, a lever pivoted on said watch movement having one of its ends engaging said clutch wheel, a cam portion on the other end of said lever, a pin on said shaft for engaging with said cam portion on said lever, the construction being such that this engagement takes place toward the end of the pivoting movement of said strap lugs, a lock spring for said shaft mounted on said case, and a cam on said shaft cooperating with said spring for locking said strap lugs and shaft in the position in which the clutch wheel is controlled for time setting operations.

14. In a wrist watch comprising a case enclosing a watch movement comprising winding and time setting mechanisms operable through a shiftable clutch wheel from the usual crown located outside of the case, a pair of strap lugs, a shaft on which said strap lugs are fixed, bearings on said case for said shaft, a lever pivoted on said watch movement having one of its ends engaging said clutch wheel, a cam portion on the other end of said lever, a pin on said shaft for engaging with said cam portion on said lever, the construction being such that this engagement takes place toward the end of the pivoting movement of said lugs, a lock spring for said shaft mounted on said case, a cam on said shaft coi operating with said spring for locking said strap lugs and shaft in the position in which the clutch wheel is controlled for time setting operations, and means on said shaft cooperating with said lever for controlling the movement of said clutch Wheel into engagement with the winding mechanism.

l5. In a wrist watch comprising a case enclosing a watch movement comprising winding and time setting mechanisms operable through a shiftable clutch wheel from the usual crown located outside of the case, a pair of strap lugs, a shaft on which said strap lugs are fixed, bearings on said case for said shaft, a lever pivoted on said watch movement having one of its ends engaging said clutch wheel, a cam portion on the other end of said lever, a pin on said shaft for engaging With said cam portion on said lever, the construction being such that this engagement takes place toward the end of the pivoting movement of said lugs, a lock spring for said shaft mounted on said case, a cam on said shaft for locking said strap lugs and shaft in the position in which the clutch wheel is controlled for time setting operations, means on said shaft cooperating with said lever for controlling the movement of said clutch wheel into engagement with the winding mechanism, and a spring mounted on said watch movement normally urging said clutch wheel into position to engage said winding mechanism.

16. In a wrist watch comprising a case enclosing a watch movement including winding and time setting mechanisms operable through a shiftable clutch wheel from the usual crown located outside of the case, a pair of ilxed strap lugs at one end of the case, a pair of strap lugs pivotally mounted on the other end of the case, and a connection between said pivoted strap lugs and said shiftable clutch wheel for moving the clutch wheel into driving engagement with the time setting mechanism upon pivotal movement oi' said strap lugs.

17. In a wrist watch comprising a case enclosing a watch movement including winding and 'time setting mechanisms operable through a:

shii'table clutch wheel from the usual crown located outside of the case, a pair of ilxed strap lugs at one end of the case, a pair of elongated strap lugs pivoted on the other end of the case, an operative connection between said strap lugs and said clutch wheel for moving said clutch wheel into time setting position upon movement of said strap lugs out of normal position, and a strap pin carried by said movable strap lugs positioned closer to the pivot point oi said strap lugs than to the free end of the strap lugs, the pivot connection between the strap lugs and the case being such that the lugs may be pivoted so that their longitudinal central plane may be moved through and beyond a plane substantially perpendicular to the case directed through the pivot points of said strap lugs.

18. In a wrist watch comprising a case enclosing a watch movement including winding and time setting mechanisms operable through any usual clutch mechanism from any desired driving means, means for securing a strap to one end of the case, a pair of strap lugs pivoted on the other end o! the case, means operable upon movement of said pivoted strap lugs for shifting said clutch mechanism for driving the time setting mechanism, and automatic means for returning said pivoted strap lugs into their normal home position upon removing pressure applied thereto for shifting the clutch mechanism into time setting position.

19. In a wrist watch movement carrying a crown to project from the side of a case provided with a pivoted strap holder, time setting and Winding mechanisms, a shiitable clutch wheel for operating either of said mechanisms, a clutch wheel lever pivoted on said watch movement and having one oi' its ends operatively associated with said clutch wheel and having its other end projecting beyond said watch movement, and a member on said strap holder and cooperating with said projecting end of said lever.

20. In a wrist watch movement carrying a crown to project from the side of a case provided with a pair of pivoted strap securing lugs, time setting and winding mechanisms, a shiftable clutch wheel for operating either of said mechanisms, a clutch wheel lever pivoted on said watch movement and having one of its ends operatively associated with said clutch wheel and having its other end projecting beyond said watch movement in position to lie between and be operated by said securing lugs when the watch movement is in position in said case, and means associated with said lugs for cooperation with said other end of said lever.

21. A wrist watch case comprising a main body portion for receiving a Watch movement including winding and time setting mechanisms and a shiftable device for operating said mechanisms, strap lugs movably mounted on said case, and means operated by said strap lugs for operating said shiftable device upon movement of said strap lugs to shift said device into cooperative engagement with either of said mechanisms.

SAMUEL MATHEZ. 

